Post by vanelsa on Apr 13, 2018 15:10:59 GMT

Buffed up Ushior Siphon and Eagle Siphon are more than the Kett can handle in this Gold solo against the Kett on Firebase Zero. I didn’t time extraction properly, and a Fiend grabbing me almost caused me to miss the shuttle.

Post by vanelsa on Apr 14, 2018 2:45:05 GMT

Human Juggernaut Gold Solo APEX One Life to Live mission on Firebase Vertigo against Remnant

I loaded up the Gold APEX mission today, which had the One Life to Live mission modifier on Firebase Vertigo against the Remnant. I think the objectives were locked because I got Upload and Hack three consecutive times. On the first two attempts, I got downed during the Wave 6 Hack. Even with the Human Juggernaut and the P.A.W. Siphon, this mission was tough.

With no margin for error, I decided to use the Human Juggernaut for his great survivability. I switched out my Snap Freeze for Lifting Shockwave to help with crowd control during the Upload and Hack objectives. Even after I got rid of the Destroyers with my Cobras and the P.A.W., it was really hairy as Breachers, Observers, and Assemblers kept rushing in.

Post by Smehur on Apr 18, 2018 17:11:36 GMT

Heyall! Thanks for posting your runs. I'm looking into the options for making either a separate site for this, or hosting the MEA stuff together with the ME3 stuff on the Themed Challenges site. Either way, I thought I'd let you know that it might be a while before I manage to set something up. I don't have as much free time as I did when I started this thread, and I'm having trouble keeping the ME3 halls of fame up to date as it is. It'll happen eventually, though, so keep up the good work!

Post by vanelsa on Apr 18, 2018 17:28:03 GMT

Heyall! Thanks for posting your runs. I'm looking into the options for making either a separate site for this, or hosting the MEA stuff together with the ME3 stuff on the Themed Challenges site. Either way, I thought I'd let you know that it might be a while before I manage to set something up. I don't have as much free time as I did when I started this thread, and I'm having trouble keeping the ME3 halls of fame up to date as it is. It'll happen eventually, though, so keep up the good work!

Post by vanelsa on Apr 22, 2018 0:14:57 GMT

Was looking to complete the Scorpion Pistol challenge, I started a Gold solo on Firebase Magma with my Human Male Soldier. I also brought the Venom Shotgun for more AOE action.

The rock area to the far left of the starting point is a very good place for solos against Kett and Outlaws. Against Remnant, Observers can target you above the rock cropping that otherwise provides cover against all other enemies besides the Ascendant’s Orb attack.

If you like to camp and not run around — and as long as you can handle the objectives — you don’t have to leave this area except for ammo/grenades. This is why I equipped the Ammo Capacity Mod III; the Scorpion doesn’t have a lot of spare ammo.

The Scorpion damages enemies within 2m radius. It would be nice if the damage area was larger, but in confined areas, it works reasonably well. You can see how this was used to eliminate the Adhis throughout the match. And it weakened both Berserkers when the pair rushed me. For enemies that move quickly (Raiders and Sharpshooters), I often aimed at the ground and let the AOE damage do the rest.

When I did run out of Scorpion ammo, I switched to the Venom, whose projectiles can bounce back to the enemies (when hitting an obstacle behind them) and have a large AOE damage radius. Both weapons take some getting used to, and they pale compared to their ME3MP counterparts.

What these weapons are not so good for is for holding a solo Hack or Upload. An earlier failed attempt wiped on a Wave 3 Hack. After getting rid of the Berserkers and Hydra, I could not clear the circle of the Adhis and Raiders quick enough before more came rushing in.

The Targets objective was a little tougher than it should be. That Saboteur did not want to go down. But I got it done and fortunately got Retrieval on Wave 6.

Post by vanelsa on Apr 30, 2018 0:38:06 GMT

A Platinum solo on Firebase Sandstorm, featuring two new camping spots. Aside from the objectives, you might be able to stay in these locations the entire match. Enemies have a more difficult time targeting you. Bosses sometimes get confused as to your location and get stuck wherever they are. Having the Human Juggernaut is handy due to his immense DR and invulnerability frames. Pair him with a good Siphon weapon and you will barely have to leave your position during the match!

For this solo, I eschewed my normal camping spots behind Building 37 and the roof except for just a handful of times. The main spot where I camped on Waves 3, 5 and 7 was in this little cubby right underneath Building 37. I had discovered this spot on my own, along with the rock ledge where I hung out on Wave 1.

Do check out this YouTube Video. It features the cubby along with several other spots where one can hide and be somewhat protected by enemies.

I don’t know if the rock ledge would work on Wave 3, where there are Berserkers and Nullifiers that can knock you out of cover and off the map. The cubby is good because there’s a little space between you and the cliff.

The cubby is also very useful for confusing the boss enemies like Ascendants and Destroyers/Progenitors. I found they often got stuck where they were when I was in the cubby. This allowed me to pick off the lower-tier enemies until the end of the wave.

In an earlier failed attempt, I successfully completed a Wave 2 Hack, thanks to two Nullifiers who had blocked the Destroyer from entering the room. I also froze, but not dispatched, any Adhis before they entered my circle. It turned out to be one of the easiest Platinum Hacks I’ve ever done. Unfortunately, I got the Boss objective on Waves 4 and 6. I used up too many Cobras for the first one, so I didn’t have enough anti-shield DPS to take out the second Progenitor.

In this successful solo, I got Retrieval for Waves 2 and 4. By the time the Boss objective came on Wave 6, I had all my Cobras to take out the Progenitor. On Extraction, I hid in the cubby until about 30 seconds. I never even where the Ascendant was hanging out on Wave 7.

If you’re interested in doing a Platinum solo, here’s another option that’s safer than rotating between the back of Building 37 and the roof.

Post by gnperdue on Apr 30, 2018 1:59:52 GMT

Haha, at the start of the video I was like “nooo, Unmoving Defence is terrible, why would you take that” and I was gearing up to write an essay and then I started watching and it was like “ah, nowwwww I get it...”

Juggernaut and P.A.W. Siphon combination is OP, and I’m completely fine with it. The Kett, Outlaws, and Remnant deserve all that siphon love from the P.A.W. after what they’ve done to me over the course of many failed solo attempts.

The ledge is a good place to camp for the Juggernaut. Against Destined and Turian Anarchists, be sure to stay on the far edges of the ledge. That way, if they throw their grenades at you, you can move to the other side to avoid the energy drain bubble or the Inferno Grenade’s residual fire.

This approach works well for Waves 1-4, but once the Behemoth and Blaze Hydra appear on Wave 5, it’s time to be mobile and move from one end of the map to the other.

The first device on Wave 6 was really tough. I knew going there that were would be a crowd of enemies. I finished the device right as the timer went out. Two of the other three devices were in less-than-ideal locations too, but somehow I managed to get them done.

Post by vanelsa on May 7, 2018 15:42:22 GMT

Finishing up Platinum solos on the last two maps that I’ve yet to solo with with non-stealth characters. First up is (for me) the difficult Firebase Derelict. Tried many attempts with a variety of characters over the past several months, but this successful one features the tanky Human Juggernaut with the dependable P.A.W. Siphon and Valkyrie combination.

I think Derelict is one of the harder maps to solo for a non-stealth character. There are few spots where you can strategically position yourself where (1) enemies come at you from one direction and (2) you have a clear and unimpeded exit route. The traditional starting spot opposite of the landing pad works well for Wave 1 and with groups. In the later waves, the cover busters of Ascendants, Berserkers, Behemoths and Blaze Hydras force you to be constantly on the move and under aim of those pesky Observers, Saboteurs and Anointed.

Did several attempts against Remnant before switching back to Kett. Devices can be a pain on this map given the fact that it’s relatively small. Enemies, especially the ones that can bite and stagger, can converge on your position quickly. The third Wave 6 device on my this run was very dicey. I got staggered twice and went down once. Like the first Wave 6 device on my Aqua run, I capped it just before the timer went off.

As you might be able to tell, the P.A.W. Siphon and N7 Valkyrie Siphon have become my favorite pair of weapons to bring on a Platinum Solo. It’s great that there’s now top tier choices for Assault Rifles to go along with Shotguns and Pistols. Buff the Soned now and give it innate piercing and an even larger clip size.

For me, my goal of finishing all the maps with non-stealth characters is almost complete. Only Nimbus remains, and I consider that another difficult map. I’ll probably skip the frustration of repeated failures and get it done with the Juggernaut or Guardian.

Post by gnperdue on May 7, 2018 16:29:37 GMT

I agree that Derelict is tough. I look forward to checking this out. I’m curious why you’re a big fan of the Valkyrie though. I mean, it isn’t bad, but it seems like two PAWs would be better? Is it a weight issue? Something to do with cover penetration?

Post by vanelsa on May 7, 2018 17:08:47 GMT

I agree that Derelict is tough. I look forward to checking this out. I’m curious why you’re a big fan of the Valkyrie though. I mean, it isn’t bad, but it seems like two PAWs would be better? Is it a weight issue? Something to do with cover penetration?

I use it for cover piercing. With the clip buff, the Valkyrie is really good and can take out multiple enemies with one clip. Blind fire is also decent with the Valkyrie. That said, on this run, I didn't use the Valkyrie as much as I did on previous failed attempts.

I did try dual PAWs, but I prefer having two Siphon weapons with me. I think two PAWs bring me right at the weight limit. I also tried using the Venom Siphon, which works really well when you have all those enemies clumped together (Wave 1 and parts of Wave 3 and 5).

Post by vanelsa on May 10, 2018 16:06:54 GMT

Firebase Nimbus is a very tough map to solo Platinum for a non-stealth character. Unlike Firebase Sandstorm, the open floor plan coupled with poor objectives placement provide a tactical advantage to the enemy.

My tanky Human Juggernaut had a frantic and difficult time on Nimbus, with several Wave 6 failed attempts. I even failed during extraction, something that hasn’t happened since I first started doing Platinum solos. I finally managed to survive this map, and I can now say that I’ve soloed Platinum on every map with a non-stealth character.

The doorways on the second floor and the either end on the top floor are good places to catch your breath once enemies are coming at you from one direction. You can’t stay in those places for long since enemies will eventually flank you, especially Observers and Anointed. The lower areas by extraction are particularly bad because you lack the high ground.

Objectives that are easier on Firebase Sandstorm, such as Devices, can be a real pain on Nimbus. Many of the devices are out in the open; unless you kite the enemies well or have a Barricade, you are very exposed to enemy fire (see the second device on Wave 4). The Wave 6 Boss was especially difficult because all the 3 Berserkers, Behemoth, and Ascendant kept blocking the last target.

Nimbus was the hardest map for me to solo. A character kit with no shield restore ability will have a challenging time soloing this map. Multicapacitor or a pet to draw aggro would be recommended.

Post by gnperdue on May 10, 2018 17:58:45 GMT

That’s good! Wave 6 is super intense on Gold, I can only imagine surviving it on Platinum but then going down in Wave 7! Of course, that isn’t to say Wave 7 is easy - if you’re out of consumables, or just too low on them, it only takes one piece of bad luck to go down...

I think I’ve only failed in Wave 7 in a solo once - and it was on Bronze! I just lost track of time and didn’t get to the LZ in time...

Post by vanelsa on May 10, 2018 18:24:32 GMT

That’s good! Wave 6 is super intense on Gold, I can only imagine surviving it on Platinum but then going down in Wave 7! Of course, that isn’t to say Wave 7 is easy - if you’re out of consumables, or just too low on them, it only takes one piece of bad luck to go down...

I think I’ve only failed in Wave 7 in a solo once - and it was on Bronze! I just lost track of time and didn’t get to the LZ in time...

That's what happened on my first Platinum solo that got to Extraction. I was trying to jump across the ledge to extraction and fell off the map with 10 seconds to go. I couldn't recover in time to get to the LZ.

On this run, it was good I had one Revive Pack at the start of Wave 7, because I needed it (I could have had 2, but I get downed by a sneaky Anointed at the end of Wave 1).